Device for bridging expansion joints in walls or floors of buildings

ABSTRACT

A device for bridging expansion joints ( 7 ) which separate adjacent surfaces in walls or floors ( 6 ) of buildings is provided. The device comprises two anchoring profiles or members ( 1 ) having an approximately L-shaped cross section. Each anchoring profile comprises a fastening leg ( 11 ) and a terminating leg ( 12 ) disposed perpendicular to the fastening leg. Each anchoring profile also has a bridging profile or member ( 2  and  3 , respectively) hinged on the terminating leg ( 12 ). The bridging profiles engage one another in a sliding, form-locking manner. In this connection, one leg ( 33 ) of a bridging profile ( 3 ) is provided with protruding elements ( 36 ) spaced from each other at least on the end engaging the other bridging profile ( 2 ). Means ( 4 ) are also provided for securing the two bridging profiles ( 2  and  3 ) engaging one another into an installed position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of EuropeanApplication No. 00122106.8 filed Oct. 12, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a device for bridging expansion jointsin walls or floors of buildings. The device comprises two approximatelyL-shaped anchoring profiles or members each having a fastening leg and aterminating leg extending perpendicular in relation to the fasteningleg, and a bridging profile or member hinged to the terminating leg, thelegs engaging one another in a sliding, form-locking manner.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] A prior device is known from EP 0 356 268 B1. The anchoringprofiles of this known device, which have an about L-shaped crosssection, are firmly screwed with their fastening legs to the substrate,with a suitable spacing from each other for forming a bridging of largeexpansion joints in buildings, and are then covered with mortar orflooring plaster. The terminating legs, which extend perpendicular tothe fastening leg, define in this connection with their outer sides theexpansion joint to be bridged, and with the top side of the terminatinglegs form a gauge for building up the wall or floor. Bridging profilesin the form of joint-like connections are hooked into each of theterminating legs, whereby a pocket-shaped bridging profile receives theother bridging profile in its pocket in a sliding manner in a slanteddirection. The device is capable in this way to absorb the movements ofthe floor or wall fields separated from each other by a joint. Due tothe sliding connection and the articulation of the bridging profiles,this device is capable of absorbing movements at different levels.Because of the deep design of their pockets and the required engagingsection, however, these profiles can be produced with very strong wallsonly by an extrusion process. Because of the required high wallthickness, these devices are not suitable for application in floors orwalls that are covered with ceramic tiles by the so-called thin-bedmethod in relatively thin adhesive or contact layers. In this method,perforated lateral fastening legs are embedded in the thin bed of theadhesive or contact layer.

[0006] The problem of the invention consists in proposing a device ofthe type specified above for use in walls or floors that are coveredwith ceramic tiles laid by the thin-bed laying method, so thatthin-walled bridging and anchoring profiles are required. It has to beassured in this connection that when such devices are installed, theirinstalled position is fixed, so that later tensile stresses or movementsof expansion of the separated fields of such tile or slate covers can beabsorbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The problem is solved with a device in accordance with theinvention. In order to obtain thin-walled pockets with adequate depthand a correspondingly long engaging end of a pocket leg, it is proposedthat the engaging pocket leg of a bridging profile or member be providedwith protruding elements located at its engaging and interlocking end.These projecting elements extend in the longitudinal direction of theprofile with a spacing from each other. In addition, means are providedfor securing the two engaged bridging profiles to one another in aninstalled position. Such securing of the installed position prevents thetwo bridging profiles engaging one another from being pushed together toan excessive extent when they are installed because they could notabsorb in such a position the required expansion movements of the fieldsof the tile covering. Owing to the design of the engaging end of apocket legs it is possible to embody this leg as a whole in athin-walled manner in conformity to the design of the other pocket leg.The pocket legs therefore can be designed largely with almost the samethickness.

[0008] In accordance with one embodiment, the upper leg can be designedshorter than the other leg engaging the pocket. Greater pocket depthscan be realized in this way in a favorable manner in the extrusionprocess.

[0009] Variations of the articulated support holding the bridgingprofiles on the anchoring profiles or members are specified by thefeatures of further embodiments where on the outer side of theterminating leg of each anchoring profile opposing the fastening leg, ahinge pin is arranged with a spacing from the top edge of theterminating leg. The hinge pin extends in the longitudinal direction ofthe terminating leg. The bridging profile is pivot-mounted on the hingepin with a partially cylindrical hinge pan or elongated socket moldedonto the end side. The hinge pin may be molded in a cylindrical recessonto the terminating leg with a spacing bridge. The hinge socket engagesthe recess in a form-locked manner.

[0010] Measures are specified in another embodiment for protecting theedges of the tile covering to be defined by the anchoring profiles. Inaccordance with this embodiment, the top end of the terminating leg ofeach anchoring profile is provided with a bushing or widening to protectan edge of an adjacent covering.

[0011] In order to obtain constant joint configurations between theterminating legs of the anchoring profiles and the adjacent edges of thetile covering, space-keeping means are provided in another embodiment asa molded-on spacing strip extending in the longitudinal direction of theterminating leg.

[0012] Special means for fixing the installed position are proposedaccording to a further embodiment. In this embodiment, one or severalgrooves are formed between the ribs for receiving connecting meansinserted in the groove in a protruding manner. This projectingconnection means is correspondingly provided in a correspondingreceiving groove located on the inner side of a leg of the pocket on theother bridging profile. Preferably cylindrical elements can be employedin the form of notched pins that can be destroyed or deformed, or in theform of deformable seals for the securing connection.

[0013] A device according to a further embodiment is proposed forbridging an expansion joint in the corner of a building, the function ofthis device being identical with the function of a device as defined bythe invention in a plane. In this embodiment, the hinge pin is formed onan anchoring profile on an end-side angling on the terminating leg, forpivotably tying the bridging profile to the terminating leg in anapproximately parallel direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood,however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustrationonly and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0015] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotesimilar elements throughout the several views:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a cross section on an enlarged scale through a device asdefined by the invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional representation of the installation ofthis device within the zone of the expansion joint in a floor laid withtiles; and

[0018]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional representation of an installation of aspecial device for bridging an expansion joint in the corner areabetween the floor and the wall of a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019]FIGS. 1 and 2 show two anchoring profiles or members 1 having anapproximately L-shaped cross-section. The anchoring profiles arepreferably produced from an aluminum or brass alloy in an extrusionprocess. Each profile has a fastening leg 11 and a terminating leg 12.The fastening legs 11 have a thickness of less than 1.5 mm, as a rule,and are provided with breakthroughs. The terminating legs 12 are eachbasically molded perpendicular to fastening leg 11. Each terminating legcomprises a hinge pin 14 that is located in a molded cylindrical recessor well 13. Hinge pin 14 is directed outwards with a spacing thatextends in the direction of the profile. Disposed on hinge pins 14 arepocket-like bridging profiles 2 and 3 which form a joint with hinge pins14. Each bridging profile or member 2, 3 has a respective hinge pan orelongated socket 24, 34 correspondingly configured to and receiving arespective hinge pin 14 by which the bridging profile is hinged on aterminating leg of an adjacent anchoring profile.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows the device used to form a joint between coveringtiles to be installed and terminating legs 12. Spacing means areprovided in the form of the molded-on strips 17 shown in FIG. 1. Inaddition, the upper area of terminating legs 12 have widenings orflanges 16 to protect the edges of the laid tiles.

[0021] The two pocket-like bridging profiles 2 and 3 each have a portionthat engages and interlocks a corresponding portion of another bridgingprofile as they slide against each other. Each bridging profile haspocket legs 22, 23 and 32, 33 respectively which form the respectivepockets 21, 31. Each bridging profile engages the corresponding pocketlegs 22, 33 in a form-locking manner with its pocket. Thus, pocket leg33 of bridging profile 3 engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 withits engaging end 33 a. The outer thin-walled pocket leg 32 of bridgingprofile 3 is kept shorter than the other pocket leg 33 of bridgingprofile 3, which engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 via engagingend 33 a. Ribs 36 are formed on one side of engaging end 33 a spacedapart from each other. The ribs reinforce pocket leg 33 only bysections, so that the leg can be pushed into pocket 21 in a form-lockingmanner. In this way, pocket legs 32 and 33 may have the same thicknessto the greatest possible extent and be made as thin as possible. Thus,pocket leg 22 has about the same thickness as the other pocket leg 23forming pocket 21 of bridging profile 3 and engages the pocket 31 ofother bridging profile 3 in a sliding and form-locking manner as well.Bridging profile 2, too, is attached with its hinge socket 24 to itscorresponding hinge pin 14 in an articulated manner. The hinge pin isformed on spacing bridge 15 in recess 13 of terminating leg 12 of theanchoring profile 1.

[0022] To fix the bridging profiles into a predetermined installationposition, a receiving groove 35 is formed between the ribs 36 on pocketleg 33,. The receiving groove conforms to a corresponding receivinggroove 25 located on the inner side of pocket leg 23. To install thedevice in a fixed position, after the installation position has beenreached, cylindrical elements 4 are inserted into these grooves whendisposed one on top of the other. Such cylindrical elements may includenotched pins or cylindrical sealing cords, and elements made of amaterial that can be destroyed or deformed in a yielding manner underpressure and/or tensile stress.

[0023] An example of the installed bridging device is shown in FIG. 2.The schematic representation indicates the two floor fields 6, betweenwhich a floor joint 7 is provided that may be filled with a fillermaterial in this area. The device according to FIG. 1 is installed forbridging the joint 7. Anchoring profiles 1 are in this connectioninstalled on the floor with their fastening legs 11 underneath thesurfaces or ceramic tiles 8, using the thin-bed coating method, with theheight of the tiles being coordinated with the clear height of theterminating leg. The applied adhesive or mortar is indicated byreference numeral 9. The cylindrical elements shown in FIG. 1 forsecuring the installed position are removed in the position shown.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an expansion joint with thebridging device located in the corner area of a building. The floor isagain denoted by reference numeral 6. The expansion joint is denoted byreference numeral 7, and the wall by reference numeral 10. A specialanchoring profile 101 is required for this embodiment. This anchoringprofile is based on the same principle as before. On the end of theterminating leg 112 of this anchoring profile, an outwardly directedangling 102 is provided. This angling, in a corresponding manner,comprises the hinge pin 14, on which the described bridging profile 3 ishinged. The embodiment of the bridging device on the side of the floorcorresponds with the embodiment according to FIG. 2.

[0025] While only two embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for bridging an expansion joint whichseparates adjacent surfaces comprising: (a) at least two anchoringmembers having an approximately L-shaped cross section, each of saidmembers comprising a fastening leg for securement beneath the adjacentsurfaces and a terminating leg perpendicular to said fastening leg; (b)at least two bridging members, each bridging member being hinged to oneof said terminating legs and having a portion engaging and interlockinga corresponding portion of another of said bridging members, in asliding, locking manner, wherein one of said bridging members has a legprovided with spaced protruding elements on the portion engaging andinterlocking the other bridging member; and (c) means for securing theengaged bridging members to each other in an installed position.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1 wherein each bridging member has at leasttwo legs forming a U-shaped pocket facing and interlocking the legs ofthe other bridging member.
 3. The device according to claim 2 whereinsaid at least two legs of one bridging member comprises a first outerleg and a second leg forming an engaging end with another bridgingpocket, said first outer leg being shorter than the second leg formingthe engaging end.
 4. The device according to claim 1 wherein theterminating leg of each anchoring member has (i) an outer side opposingthe fastening leg of said anchoring pin and (ii) a hinge pin spaced froma top edge of the terminating leg, said hinge pin extending in thelongitudinal direction of the terminating leg, each bridging memberhaving a partly cylindrical hinge socket molded onto an end sidepivotally-mounting said bridging member on a corresponding hinge pin. 5.The device according to claim 4 wherein each hinge pin is molded with aspacing bridge in a cylindrical recess of each terminating leg, wherebythe hinge socket of one of said bridging members lockingly engages saidrecess of an adjoining anchoring member.
 6. The device according toclaim 1 wherein the terminating leg of each anchoring member has a topend provided with a flange for protecting an edge of an adjacentsurface.
 7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the terminating leghas spacing means on a side facing the surface to be protected, saidspacing means being adapted to form a joint between the edge of thesurface and the terminating leg.
 8. The device according to claim 7wherein the spacing means comprises a molded-on spacing strip extendingin the longitudinal direction of the terminating leg.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the protruding elements comprise ribs, saidother bridging member has at least two legs forming a pocket forreceiving said leg of said one of said bridging members, one of said atleast two legs having an inner side having a receiving groove, and saidmeans for securing the bridging members in the installed positioncomprises at least one groove formed between the ribs for receivingconnecting means provided in said receiving groove and insertable insaid at least one groove in a protruding manner.
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein the connecting means comprises at least onecylindrical element which is removable from the receiving grooves andsaid at least one groove formed between the ribs.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 10 wherein said at least one cylindrical elementcomprises a notched pin.
 12. The device according to claim 10 whereinsaid connecting means comprises a deformable sealing cord.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means comprises acylindrical pin made of a material which can be deformed transversely inrelation to its longitudinal direction.
 14. The device according toclaim 1 wherein each anchoring member has a hinge pin formed on an angleon an end side of the terminating leg for pivotably mounting saidbridging member to the terminating leg in an approximately paralleldirection.
 15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the protrudingelements of said leg comprise ribs.